Microsoft Makes Management Simple with New Server OS for SMBs

I blogged back in November about Microsoft's Windows Essential Business Server product lineup, focusing on the software giant's efforts to woo mid-size businesses with a software bundle -- once codenamed Centro -- that includes simplified management and licensing features and remote management capabilities.

Late last week Microsoft added another software bundle, offering a number of the same features, but geared toward smaller companies with fewer than 50 PCs.

According to the Washington Post, both products feature the same code as Windows Server 2008, Microsoft's next-generation server OS, which is expected to drop later this week. Though it hasn't yet been released, versions of the software have already been showing up online, with the code available on BitTorrent tracker sites such as Pirate Bay.

Among the features of Windows Essential Business Server 2008: integration with Microsoft Office Live Small Business; support for Windows Mobile devices; and a single management console that will allow sys admins to manage not only Microsoft products but third-party offerings from companies like Citrix, Symantec and McAfee.